Sign



L. H. HYATT Dec. 17, 1929.

SIGN

Filed Sept. 8. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet |NvENToR 0W/@276 YA/)5477 ffsl ATTORNEYS /Mwy L. H; HYATT Dec. 17, 19.29.

SIGN

Filed Sept. 8. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ah/fence H/M BY fr; M W41 14u15 vATTCMQNEYS L. H. HYATT Dec. 17, 1929.

SIGN

v Filed sept. 8, 1928 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR lawrence H /9//4 77" L. H. HYATT Dec. 17s 1929.

SIGN

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed sept. 8, 1228 lNvENToR lau/renfe H HV 77 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1929 NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE H, HYATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGN

rIhis invention relates t'o signs and particularly to daylight signs. Signs employing daylight as the source of illumination have come into quite general use through the arrangement of the parts of the sign insuch a manner as to produce the illusion of brilliant artificial lighting.

These signs consist essentially of a stencil, a reflecting surface and a diffusing sheet such,

l@ for example, as a sheet of crinkled or ruffled glass. These parts are mounted in a suitable frame-work or casing preferably in such manner that alll light is excluded from the reflecting surface except the light employed to make the outline o f the stencil visible. The letters, characters or ornamental design of the advertisement or other matter which is to be displayed, are placed in outline on the stencil, so that the light as viewed by the ne observer is outlined in the shape of these characters. The crinliled or ruffled glass increases the angle with respect to the reflecting' surface 'ithin which the characters are visible, and by coloring this sheet, or by interposing a colored sheet of transparent material at any suitable point in the light reflecting system of the sign, the displayed matter may be made to stand out vividly in contrast to its surroundings so that attention will :c be more readily attracted to it.

It is important that the reflecting surface be plane, that the stencil be correctly associated with the reflecting surface, and also that a good quality of' diffusing sheet be used, and

a5 these considerations together With the casing construction increase the cost of such signs considerably over the cost of an ordinary paint-ed sign of the usual construction. For example, in order to obtain a suitable reflect- 4o ing surface, it is'desirable to use plate glass to secure a uniform appearance of the characters displayed, and it is also desirable to use a relatively expensive grade of ruiiied for the diffusing sheet in order to obtain proper diffusion without the absorption of too much light. Hence it is desirable to be able to change the arrangement of the letters or other designs displayed by the sign, without the necessity of using an entirely new sign.

Accordingly one of the objects of the pres- Vent invention is to provide a daylight sign of the character referred to which is constructed in such a Way that the arrangement of the letters, characters, or designs can be readily rearranged, or changed altogether, so as to display a different advertisement, in the same sign.

It is also desirable in a sign of this kind to be able to periodically change the advertisement displayed to brin@ out some other advertising feature, or for the purpose of attracting attention to the sign, or in other words, causing people to take notice of it, and it is also an object of my invention to improve the construction of daylight signs so as to cause a periodical change of the advertisement or other matter displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a changeable daylight sign, with mechanism for changing the displayed matter which is particularly adapted to be actuated b-y a moving vehicle, without incurring eX- pense for energy to actuate the sign mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to so improve the construction of changeable daylight signs that the weather will be e3:- cluded from such parts as it is desirable to protect, and so that such signs may be con'- structed at moderate costs.

In order to make the principles of my invention better understood, I have illustrated several embodiments of my improved sign in the accompanying drawings, and the invention will be further described in connection therewith. In these drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of my improved changeable daylight sign,

Fig. 2 is a perspective View partly in section of a rotatable drum type of periodically changing sign,

Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. are transverse sections of slightly modified forms of rotatable drums,

Fig. 7 illustrates Yone method of mounting the revolvable drums shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive,

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a housing for the drums shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, the

drum of Fig. 2 being illustrated in position in the housing,

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectionA similar to Fig. 8 of a somewhat modified form of housing with a slightly different form of revolvable drum therein,

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken near the end of the housing shown in Figs. 8 and 9 illustrating mechanism for periodically rotating the drums in a step by step movement,

Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive show a number of modifications of a somewhat different form of changeable sign, in which the stencil is in disc form and rotated by a clockwork mechanism, and Y Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate a still different modification in which the stencil is of flexible material mounted upon rollers which are driven bya suction motor.

Referring now to the accompanying` drawings, and first to Fig. 1, the sign here illustrated 'comprises a framework 20 preferably of metal, in the top of which is mounted a sheet 21 of a transparent material such as clear glass. At the rear the frame 20 ldrops vertically for a short distance with a wall 22, and this wall joins an oblique wall 23 which terminates at the bottom of the sign where it intersects the front of frame 20.

The oblique wall 23 is provided along its lower and upper margins with guides 24 underneath which is a reflecting surface 25 which is composed preferably of a sheet of plate glass metallized onone surface to form a mirror.

Immediately overlying this sheet, and also retained in place by the guides 24there are a plurality of stencil elements 26. The term stencil is used herein to designate any device which co-acts with the light modifying systern tocause the light to appear' in the form of a desired design or character. The stencil designs may take the form of letters, figures, ornamental designs or any matter which it -may be desirable to display for advertising or for any other purpose for which a sign is used.

The stencil elements 26 are preferably com- A posed of thin sheets of opaque material such, for example, as black Celluloid, in which-the characters or .designs are cut. These stencils may be so cut asto cause the light either within or without the boundary of the design or character to be reflected by the reflecting surface. That is, the arrangement may be such that the designs or characters will stand out in a black field, or vice versa. The stencils may also be made by direct coating of opaque material on the reflecting surface 25, in which case instead of a single mirror being used, the reflecting surfaces and stencil elements would be co-extensive. V

At the front of the sign there is mounted in the frame 2O a diffusing sheet 27 which is composed of a translucent material and preferably glass having a ruflled or crinkled surface. AWhen, therefore, daylight entering at the top of the sign strikes the reflecting surface 25, it is refiected in the outline of the stencil design against the diffusing sheet 27 and the design becomes visible from points in front of the sign. The'diffusing sheet 27 is preferably made of a colored or tinted glass, so that the stencil design will stand out in a vivid color. 4 l

By means of this construction, the stencil ,being placed in close proximity to the reflecting surface, the design stands out in extremely sharp outline. Moreover, the stencil elements 26 may be readily removed from the sign through either end of frame 20 by sliding underneath the guides 24, and either re-arranged orientirely replaced tochange the Wording of the sign or the characters displayed. In addition, the interior of the sign is protected because of the sheets 21 and 27, so that it is impossible for the weather to come in contact with and injure the reflecting surface 25.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, the signs shown in these figures are made in the form of drums which, by placing in suitable mountings, can be revolved so as to readily and quickly change the display matter. The framework of these signs consists of a simple longitudinal shaft 28, 'a plurality of longitudinally extending members 29, one of these members being placed at each corner of the drum, and rigidly joined together at each end of the drum as shown in Fig. 7.

T hesigndrums shownv in Figs. 2 and 3 are constructed so as to completely exclude water from the interior of the drum, and each of the signs'of Figs. 2 to 6 is arranged to provide for three complete changes of display matter. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the combined signsV and reflecting surfaces are shown at 30, 31 and 32. Each of the six faces 33, however, is of clear, transparent material such as'clear glass, and the diffusing sheets, preferably of colored glass, are shown at 34, 35, and 36.

In the modification of the sign shown in Fig. 2, the daylight passes through diffusing sheet 34 after entering through the clear sheet 33 above it,.and is then reflected by the stencilled refiecting surface 30. An observer in yfront of the sign seesthe brightly illuminated outline of the stencilled mirror through the front sheet 33.

The drum of Fig. 3 differs from the one shown in Fig. 2 in that the diusing s'heets 37, 38 and 39, instead of being placed radially, are arranged to take the place of certain of the clear glass sheets 33. Thus every other outside sheet is a diffusing sheet preferably of crinkled, colored glass, and the intermediate outside sheets are of clear glass and are designated 33.

The stencilled reflecting surfaces'30431 llO and 32 are in the same position as the similar parts in Fig. 2.

Either of these .drum signs, when in use, is supported in the manner shown in Figs. 7 or 8. In Fig. 7 shaft 28 is mounted to rotate in a pair of brackets 40 and 41 placed at the ends of the drum and provided with suitable feet for securing the Sign in place on the top of the automobile, roof, or other point where it is desired to locate the sign. Shaft 28 extends somewhat beyond bracket 40 and s provided with a hand-wheel 42 by which the sign may be rotated by hand. A star-wheel andY ratchet mechanism, indicated generally by numeral 43, is provided to maintain the sign in one of the three display positions with one of the display faces 33 in an approximately vertical position. IVhen the sign is located at an elevation above the eyes of the observers, the star-wheel mechanism 43 is arranged to hold the display faces 33 at a downwardly inclined angle so as to make it easier for the display matter in the sign to be visible.

In this form of the sign, the entire drum is exposed to view, this not being objectionable because it is not intended that the drum of this modification be rotated to change the display matter at very frequent intervals. Even if the sign is changed often, however, it is not objectionable to have the drum exposed, as it is neat and attractive in appearance. Furthermore, the presence of glass sheets in each of the outside faces of the drum reduces the visibility on the inside of the sign chambers which are not in use so that the display matter on the stencilled refleeting surfaces of these chambers cannot readily be seen. Y

Referring now to Fig.'8, the drum of Fig. 2 is here shown mounted in a housing comprising an end plate 44 at each end of the drum, the two end plates being joined at the front of the sign by an apron 45 of metal or other suitable opaque material which serves to conceal the drum and the operating mechanism, which is provided in this instance for rotating the drum. The single face ofthe drum which it is desired to Vexhibit to view is visible, however, through an opening 46 inthe apron 45.

The operating mechanism just referred to is 'illustrated in Fig. l0 and comprises Geneva gear elements 47 and 48 mounted within a compartment 49 adjacent one of the end plates 44.v The gear element 47 is mounted rigidly on shaft 28, and gear element 48 rotates upon a shaft 50 arranged below and parallel with shaft 28. A wormwheel 51 also rotating on shaft 50 is connected to drive gear element 48, and a worm 52 drives worm-wheel 5l. Worm 52 is carried by a shaft 53 upon the forward end of which a wind-wheel 54 is mounted.

The form of sign is intended primarily for use upon motor vehicles, the current of air caused by the motion of the vehicle past l matter displayed by the sign as the motor v vehicle moves. f l

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, there are here illustrated three slightly differing modifications of the rotatable sign drum. In these forms of drum'there is no attempt made to prevent the weather fromcoming in contact with all the partsof the drum as in the forms previously described. In Fig. 4, three stencilled mirrors 55, similar to these employed in the drums of Figs. 2 and 3, are mounted radially in a hub or spider construction on shaft 28, and intermediate and equally spaced between these three stencilled mirrors, are placed three di'using sheets 56, also'radially mounted. The daylight entering from above passes through the diffusing sheet and is reflected by the stencilled mirror, on the surface of which the characters, letters or other matter displayed is visible.

It is to be'understood `that the stencils of the stencilled reflecting surfaces of the drum shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 may be of the changeable construction described in connection with Fig. l, if desired. only can a plurality of different signs be displayed one after the other in rapid succession, but the displayed matter in each of tliese signs can be changed from time to time, without the necessity of rebuilding the sign.

In Figs. 5 and 6, rotatable drums are illustrated which are made according to the principle of a daylight sign which has heretofore been used for a stationary sign. In this type of daylight sign, the stencil, instead of being placed adjacent to the reflectA4 ing surface, is placed adjacentthe diffusing sheet, and the observer views in a plane reflecting surface or mirror the image of the stencilled design. l

In Fig. 5, plane reflecting surfaces or mirrors 57 are radially mounted in the hub of shaft 28and the diffusing sheets preferably of crinkled colored glass 58 mounted in parallel relation to the reflecting surfaces 57 with which they co-act, being placed as three outside faces of the hexagonal drum. The stencils 59 are mounted on the inside surfaces of diffusing sheets 58.

In Fig. 6, the mirrors 57 are arranged in exactly the same way as in Fig. 5, but the stencilled diffusing sheets, instead of being mounted in parallel relation to their respective reflecting surfaces 57, are mounted at an angle thereto, being secured to the hub of shaft 28and spaced intermediate the respective reflecting surfaces 57.

It is to be vunderstood that the stencils of the drums of Figs. 5 and 6 may be made in sections and removable in a similar manner In this way not to the stencils of Fig. 1 if it is desired to do It is also to be understood that in any of 'the drums illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 inelusive, Where colored diffusing sheets are employed, they may be made of dierent color in the same sign, so that as the drum revolves each of the signs brought into vievs7 Will be displayed in a different color.

Referring now to Fig. 9, the revolving drum here consists simply of three stencilled reflecting surfacesGO radially mounted in the hub of a shaft 28, the drum being intermit-V tently revolved by mechanism previously described in connection with Fig. 10. In this case, however, a casing 61 completely surrounds the rotating drum so as to conceal it from vievv and protect it from the Weather. In the casing there is an upper light-admitting opening 62 and a front opening 63, through which the displayed matter is visible.

VA diffusing sheet is placed in one or the other of these openings, and a sheet of clear glass or other suitable transparent material in the other opening, that is, the diffusing sheet may be placed in opening 62, .and a clear transparent sheet in opening 63, or vice versa. In the former case, thevoperation of the light reflecting system of the sign is similar to the light reflecting system of the drum shown in Fig. 3, and in the latter case it is similar to the light reflecting system of the drum shown in Fig. 2'. l Thev difference is that in Figs. 2 and 3 all of the members of the light receiving andJ reflecting system rotate, Whereas in the Yconstruction of Fig. 9, only the stencilled refleeting surfaces rotate.

The form of changeable sign shown in Figs. 11-14, inclusive, is intended for use Where itis desirable to have the device more coinpact, and accordingly only a single chamber' and single light receiving and reflecting system is used, and the change in thedisplay matter is effected by moving the stencil relative to the other parts of the light system.v

In the form shown in Figs. 11 land 12 a reflecting surface 64 is mounted at an angle approximately to the horizontal Within the chamber 65 Which is open at the top or covered With a protective sheet vin clear glass if desired.

The light admitted to chamber 65from above is reflected by mirror 64 in the direction of stencil 66 Which is mounted upon a transparent disk 67 preferably of diffusing `material such as crinkled or roughened glass,

and also preferably colored in some vivid hue. The transparent disk 67 carrying the stencil is secured upon the outer end of a rotating shaft 68 Which is driven by a spring motor mechanism indicated diagrammatically at 69, and housed Within a casing 70. at the rear of the sign.

The disk 67 in rotating under the action of the spring motor brings a plurality of designs or characters cut inthe stencil 66 suc- The spring motor may be arranged to ro-,A

tate the stencil disk in a stepfby-step move# ment or in a continuous movement as desired.

In Fig. 13 a similar spring motor mechanism is housed Within a compartment 72 and arrangedV toV rotate a transparent disk 73 which is mounted horizontally above this compartment. This disk is provided With a stencil 7 4 similar in all respects to stencil 66 and having any desired design cut therein.

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The casing of the sign Acovers the. uper surface of disk 73 except for a Window 5 at the right of the sign, and When the stencil characters are moved opposite this vvindovs7 the light passes through the stencil and the transparent disk 73 and strikes the reflecting surface 76 so that an ,observer at the right of the sign may look through theV vertical` Window 77 and see inthe mirror 7,6 the reflection of the stencil characters.-

v It Will be understood that disk 73 is preferably ofthe same'type as disk 67 in Fig. 12. In the modified form shown in Fig. 14

the stencil 78 is placed directly onthe surface of the rreflecting surface y7 9 as in Figs. 1 to 4,

inclusive. The light enters the open top of` the light receiving chamber 80, and is reflected by ,the mirror against the diffusing sheet 81, on Which it is visible from the rfront of the sign. Y

In this form .of my invention the reflecting surface or mirror 79 is inthe form of a Vcircular disk Which is either continuously .or intermittently `revolved by means of a spring motor mechanism Within the casing 82 so as to bring the plurality of designs of stencil 78 successively into the chamber 80 Where they are successively displayed.

In the modification of my invention illus` trated in Figs. 15 and 16 the reflecting surface is mounted in a stationary position at an angle of approximately 45 with the horizontal Within the light receiving and reflecting chamber 84 in the front of Which there is an opening 85 Which may be provided With a sheet of clear glass if desired, and Ythrough Which the display matter of the sign is visible.

From the upper part of chamber 84 are two rolls 86 and 87 upon Which are Wound a strip of transparent flexible stencil material 88 throughout the length of Which'letters, characters or other designs are placed-to form a series of advertising or other display material. YMechanism to be presently described causes the continuous Winding of this flexible stencil 88 from one of the rolls 86 and 87 to the other and'in passing between these rolls the stencil, for a suitable distance above the reflecting surface 83, is maintained in a flat condition by means of a pair of guides 89.

The stencil may be made of Celluloid, cloth,

aper or any other convenient material.

The mechanism for causing the operation of the rolls 86 and 87 is illustrated in Fig. 16. The source of power is a suction mot-or 90 of the rotary or piston type which is connected to the intake manifold 91 of an internal combustion member 92 by means of a small tube 93 in which is placed a valve 94 for controlling the operation of the sign.

A belt or chain 95 passes over the pulley on the suction motor shaft and drives a pulley or sprocket 96 which is secured to the shaft 97 that is mounted in a pair of pivoted arms 98 only one of which is illustrated.

These arms are pivot-ally mounted at 99 on the frame work of the sign. Also mounted on shaft 97 to rotate therewith is a gear or friction roll 100 which from the position shown in Fig. 16 engages an idle gear or roll 101 and drives roll 86 in a direction to wind the stencil strip on to this roll.

Mounted below the rolls is a reversing arm 102 pivoted at 103 and upturned at each end to lightly engage the surface of the stencil strip wound on the two rolls 86 and 87.

As shown in Fig. 16 the Winding of the stencil strip from roll 87 to roll 86 has just commenced, and as this goes on roll 86 increases in diameter and roll 87 decreases in diameter causing the reversing arm 102 to slowly rotate about its pivot 103.

This carries the upper end of an arm 104, which projects upwardly from reversing arm 102, past the center of pivot 99,-.this taking place when all of the stencil strip has been wound upon roll 86. When this occurs a spiral spring 105 which is fixed to the upper end of arm 104 at 106 and which is also attached at point 107 to a projection of arm 98 extending below pivot 99, causes arm 98 to suddenly swing about its pivot and snap the sprocket or gear 100 from engagement with idle gear 101 into engagement with an idle gear 108 at the right. Gear 108 drives roll 87 through a second idle gear 109, in the direction to cause the stencil strip to be rewound upon roll 87. When the stencil strip has been wound upon roll 87 the reversing mechanism again operates causing the strip to rewind upon roll 86.

This mechanism therefore causes the stencil strip with its various forms of advertising matter thereon to pass back and forth over the reflecting surface 83, so that a continuous series of advertisements or other displayed matter is visible through the window 85.

The window 85 may be provided with a diffusing sheet of a crinkled and preferably colored diffusing material if desired, or such sheet may be placed either above or below the' stencil 88, the number of these arrangements being the same as previously disclosed in connection with the other figures of the drawings.

It will be understood that if it is desired to do so the signs illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 may be actuated by the spring motor mechanism of Figs. 11 to 14, or by the suction motor mechanism of Figs. 15 and 16. To do this it is only necessary to connect the driving shaft of suction motor 90 so as to rotate shaft 53 of Fig. 10, or to make a similar connection between the spring motor mechanism and shaft 53.

Similarly the modified forms of sign illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, may be actuated by the wind wheel and Geneva gear mechanism of Fig. 10 or by the suction motor of Fig. 16.

Furthermore, the signs shown in Figs. 15 and 16 may be actuated by the wind wheel arranged to drive the gear or sprocket 100, or this element may be driven by means of the spring motor of Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive.

"What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A daylight sign comprising a rotary drum carrying a plurality of light receiving and reflecting systems constructed to cause daylight to be visible within the drum in the form of a plurality of designs and means for rotating said drum to bring said designs successively into view.

2. A daylight sign comprising a rotary drum carrying a plurality of light receiving and reflecting systems constructed to cause daylight to be visible within the drum in the form of a plurality of designs, and means for rotating said drum in a step-by-step movement.

3. A changeable daylight sign comprising a rotary drum having a plurality of chambers each containing a daylight receiving and refiecting system for causing daylight to be visible within the chamber in the form of a design, and means for rotating said drum to bring said designs successively into view.

4. A daylight sign comprising a rotary drum carrying a plurality of light receiving and reflecting systems for causing daylight to be visible within the drums in the form of a plurality of designs, mechanism including a Geneva gear for rotating said drum and means for driving said mechanism.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LAWRENCE I-I. HYATT. 

